Defour ready to make Manchester United move

The Standard Liege midfielder has been monitored by Sir Alex Ferguson since September 2009, when the United manager sent him a get-well letter after Defour broke his foot.

Defour, 22, was named captain of Liege when he was just 19 and is regarded as one of the best midfield talents in Belgium - with United ready to make their move.

talkSPORT first revealed United were keen on him back in August and sources close to Liege believe Defour will leave them in January.

And now the player himself has confirmed talkSPORT's story and says he is ready to leave the club.

"I know that Manchester United are monitoring me - if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season," he said.

"I've had the opportunity to leave Standard on a couple of occasions, but I loved the club too much to leave. However, I'm 22-years-old now and I also have to think about myself. There comes a time when you just have to make the next step in your career, regardless of your feeling for the club."

There comes a time when you just have to make the next step in your career, regardless of your feeling for the club